The World Bank, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), and Overseas Development Institute (ODI) have recently released a report that makes the case for adopting a problem-driven approach to public financial management reform in Pacific Island countries. The report, which includes the results of detailed case studies of reform experience in Kiribati and Tonga, examines how well reform programs have focused on the key challenges that Pacific Island countries face in managing fiscal policy and financing delivery of public services.

On October 31, one of the authors of the report, Richard Bontjer from DFAT, presented its key findings, and a panel of experts from the World Bank, DFAT, and the Nossal Institute for Global Health discussed the implications of the report’s recommendations for delivery of health services in the Pacific.